Regulator for dynamo-electric machines



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

E. THOMSON.

REGOLATO-R POR OYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES, MOTORS, Cc. No. 353,180. Patented Nov. 23, 1 886.

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WITNESSES: INVENTOR A T TORIVE Y (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. THOMSON.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES, MOTORS, zc.

No. 353,180.v Patented Nov. 23, 1886` INVENTOR ATTORNEY N. PETER, Pham Lmegnp UNITED STATES PATENT OrricnQ ELIHU THOMSON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO-ELEOTRIC MACHINS, MOTORS, son

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.. 353,180, dated November 23, 1886,

Application filed June 10, 1886. Serial No. 204,780. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELU-1U Tiroifrson, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lynn, in the county oi" Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Regulators for Dynamo-Electric Machines, Motors, &c., of which thc following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a thoroughly reliable and eiiicient regulator, designed. more particularly for application to dynamo-electric machines and foruse under those conditions where it is desirable to maintain a certain elcetromotive force or constant difference of potenti al between the terminals of the machine, irrespective of changes oit' speed of the armature or in the number of lights or other working devices operated by the current of said machine.

The invention is intended more especially for application to sllunt-wound dynamos feeding incandescent lamps or other working apparatus in multiple are. It may also be applied to compound-wound dynamo-machines, so as to compensate for the increase of electromotive force due 4to increases in speed of the driving-power.

My invention consist-sof four different parts in combination-to wit: iirst, a controllermagnet properly connected to the electric circuit so as to be sensitive to changes of electrical condition thereon; second, a motor device consisting of either a motor, electro-magnet, or a mechanical motor controlled by said magnet, which device is governed in its action by the controller-magnet; third, a variable resistance connected to the dynamo-inachine in such way as to control the generating capacity of the same, and composed of a material whose resistance varies with changeset temperature; fourth, suitable means for governing the temperature of said resisting-coil, said means being operated by the motor device.

The artificial resistance employed in my invention is `the same in principle as that described in another applicationfor patent filed by me of even date herewith7 Serial No. 204,779. It consists, essentially, of an electric conductor composed of a material whose resistance varies with the temperature of Said conductor, and combined with which is a means for varying the temperature of said conductor--such, for instance, as a cooling or heating current of air or other fluid controilable by manual or automatic devices.

In my application just referred to I have shown the adjustable resistance as contained in a non-conducting casing,through which the air is made to circulate by the heat developed in the conductor itself when a current of electri city passes through the same, and in combination with ksuch casing a valve for controlling the flow ol the airso as to determine the extent to which the conductor shall become heated. I have also described in said application equivalent means for controlling the temperature of said conductor, and consisting, essentially, of a jet of a heating or a cooling iiuid whose effects on the conductor may be varied either by throwing the jet on or ofi" the conductor to a greater or-lessextent, or by governing the amountot heat or cooling iiuid delivered from thejet.

- In my present application I have, 'for the sake of simplicity, coniincd my description to that particular form of adjustable rhcostat or resistance in which theconductor is contained in a closed case and a valve is employed for governing the dow of air through said case. The conductor may be either a substance or metal-such as iron or platinum-whose resistance increases with an increase of its temperature or may be a materialsnch as carbonwhose resistance decreases with an increase of temperature.

The controllermagnet of my invention, when used with a dynamo supplying lamps or other devices in multiple are, is properly connected tothe mains, so as to be sensitive to small variations in the difference of potential between said mains. I prefer to make such controllermagnet act as an electric relay to throw into and out oi action the motor-magnet, though it may bc employed to operate a device that acts mcchanicall y to th row into action amech anical power acting on the devices for varying the temperature of the conductor whose resistance varies with changes of temperature. The adjustable resistance is preferably placed in the circuit with the field coils ofthe machine where such coils are in a derived circuit to the Work.

In the accompanying drawings, which form IOO a part of this specification, Figure l is a diagram illustrating the invent-ion as applied to an ordinary shunt-wound dynamomachine. Fig. 2 illustrates the preferred way of mounting the adjustable resistance-coil so as to eX- pose it more thoroughly to the effects of the cooling-current of air. Fig. 3 shows a centroller-magnet adapted more especially for use with certain kinds of compound-wound dynamo-machines. Figs. '-,t and 5 illustrate modiications of the principle indicated in Fig. 3. Fig. G illustrates the manner of controlling the mechanical motor-such as a clock-work or wheel-work, when such is employed for the motor-magnet of Fig. l. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate modiiications in the arrangements and connections of the motor-magnet and the controller-contacts.

Referring to Fig. 1, the parts of any shuntwound dynamo are indicated as follows:

F indicates the coils of the field-magnet placed in derived circuit to the work, consisting of electric lamps or other devices, E E, fed in multiple arc from the mains a b.

A is the armature of the machine, K, the eommutatorcylinder, and B B the brushes connected to the mains and to the circuit of coils F, as indicated.

In the circuit of coils F is included the adjustable resistance, composed of a coil or conductor whose resistance changes with changes of temperature. Such a coil is indicated at It, and forms a considerable fraction of the tot-al resistance in the branch or derived circuit, including F and It.

T indicates an inclosing tube or chimney surrouiuling the resistance It, and preferably lined with a non-conductor of heat-such as plaster, asbestus, clay, or a mixture of such materials-or otherwise constructed so as to guard against lateral escape and conduction of heat. This case is formed with a number of openings at its bottom, through which air may enter, and at its top has an opening controlled by a suitable valve, V, operated by the motor device of my invention.

In the present instance the motor device is shown as composed of an electro-magnet, M, whose armature is carried bya lever, L, pivoted at P', and having a suitable retractingspring, Z. The valve controls the draft of air through the chimney T, produced by the heat developed in the coil It, and according to the draft determines the temperature that the coil R shall attain by the agency ofthe heating effects of current passing through it. If the conductor It is of carbon, which decreases in resistance with an increase of temperature, the valve V should be arranged so as to close the opening at the top of chimney T when a decrease of resistance is required, instead of of opening it, as would be required if the couductor R is formed from a metal such as platinum, so as to require to be cooled to produce a similar effect.

In the description which follows it is assumed thatiron 0r other substance is employed for the conductor It, which increases in resistance considerably with an increase of temperature. It' a material having the opposite characteristic is used, it would only be necessary to reverse the cycle of operations at some one of its stages, as is obvious.

The magnet M is preferably energized from the mains e b, as indicated, and under such conditions of use would naturally be of considerable resistance. At the same time, however, it will be understood that such magnet might be energized by current derived from any source separate from that supplying the current to the mains a b.

The circuit of the electro-magnet M is controlled by contacts operated by the controllermagnet C of my invention. The controllercontacts are formed o1' a stop or contact. D, as shown, and a contact-screw, S, preferably made adjustable and mounted on the lever L, which carries the armature N of the electromagnet G. The contact D is connected to one of the mains, as, for inst-ance, a, and the contact S is connected'through the electro-magnet M with the other main, b. I prefer to employ, in conjunction with these devices, a condenser, G, for preventing spark at the contact D on the opening of the circuit of magnet M.- The two poles ofthe condenser are connected, respectively, to the upper and lower contacts, or to their connecting-wires, as indicated inthe tigure. The electro-magnet C is also connected in one of the branches, between the mains a b, so that it will feel any changes in the conditions of potential between the mains c b.

The armature-lever L is mounted on knifeedge bearings, (indicated at 1),) and is supported on a pillar, J. The pull of the magnet is comiterbala-nced by a variable weight, \V, which is hung so as to avoid friction on the bearings of the lever, and which is preferable toaretractilespring onaccountofits constancy. Itis desirable to provide, also, a rider-weight, XV', which can be moved to effect small adjustments of counter-poise.

Assuming an adjustmentto be made so that there will be a balance when the electro-magnet Gis energized to normal amount, and that the screw S is set so as to act in conjunction with the back stop, X, of the lever to permit a small play at the controller-contacts, it will be evident that any very slight variation in the difference of potential between the mains a b will cause an increase or decrease of powerof the magnet G, which will be attended by a closing or opening of the contact at D. By the action of the controller-contacts D S, the magnet M is thrown into or out of action, and from this there results a change of resistance through a closing or opening of the valve V, with a consequent heating or cooling of the resistance It as the cooling draft of air is cut off or re-establishcd by the operation ot' the valve.

An increase in the temperature of the resistance R, produced by closing the valve, results in introducing greater resistance tothe flow of Current in the field-circuit, including coils F,

ses, iacp 12% and therefore diminishes the power of the ltiold-magnet of the-machine, while conversely the lowerin ol' the temperature ot' R through the establishment of the cooling-air draft results in greater power of the iieldmagnet. These changes .in the field-magnet, as well nnderstood in the art, change the generating ca-k pacity ot the machine and the dil't'erenceol' potential between the two mains d I). In prac tice there is a vibration ot' the parts resulting in the inaintaining ol such a temperature in the coil R through vibration ol" the valve as to secure a constant electro-motive torce or con-k stant diliercnce of potential between the mains o b.

In the normal action of the device a trequent closure and opening of the contacts at D take place, which, as obvious, are accompanied by movements ofthe valve V. It an iucrease of the speed of the armature A should occur, there would be a temporary increase in the electro-motive force, since the increased power ot' magnet @,rcsulting from such action, would close the controller-contact D and hold it closed. Valve V would, therefore, be kept closed, and the resistance R would increase by increase ol temperature,thus cutting down the field F and restoring the potential to normal, after which the vibratory actions just descrhed would be resumed. A diminution of speed would give temporarily a low potential, since the power of C would decrease. allowing the contacts D S to remain open until, through the continued opening of the valve V and the cooling ot' the resistance R, the strength ot' the field-magnet is increased so as to raise the potential on the mains to norma-l, whereupon the vibratory state is again resumed. rlhe coils ol" controller-magnet U must ofcourse be ol" such high resistance as to prevent injurious heating during use.

It will be obvious that the valve V may be 1 made to close throiiigh the action ofthe spring Z, and the magnet M made to act so asto tend to open the valve. ln this case the contacts of the controller-magnet must be reversed in position so that the magnet M will be thrown out of action when the power of the controllermagnet increases, and will be thrownv into aetion when its power decreases. Such a modification l have indicated in Fig. 7. It is liliewise obvious that the same effect produced by retractor Z could be produced bythe employ ment ot' a second magnet thrown into action when the magnet M is cut out. Such an arrangement is indicated in Fig. S, where the second magnet is indicated at M, and is ranged to be shunted by the controller-corr tacts,so that on the throwing out o1 the magnet M by the breaking of the contact the magnet W2 will be simultaneously thrown into action through the breaking of the shunt around it. Other modilications can bc made without departingtrom the principle of my invention.

rlhe magnet M and its retractor are simply typical of any motor devices controllable by the operation of sensitive maguetf-such the controller-magnet C-and whose function is to do the heavier work, orworlr demanding a large range ot' movement ol' the parts.

I pre'l'er to mount the rcsistancccoil R in the manner indicated in Fig. 2, so as to expose all its parts more cti'ectivel y to the action ot the current oi' air orgas that affects its temperature. rlthis result is secured by mounting` the coil on the tapering frame, as indicated, so that its successive turns will he displaced laterally and willnot shield one another from the current. The frame is preferably ecnstructcd ci" tapering wings, formed ot' a nonconductor-such as micaand supported at their inner edges in a metal or plaster stem. At the outer edges of the wings suitable notches are cut t'or the reception ot' the iron or platinum wire making up the coil.

` In applying my regulator to the shunt field,- coil of a compouiid-wound dynamo, wound to to give a constant diii'crcnce of potential, no modiiications are necessary; but where the d yv namo-machinc is wound so as to give an increase ot' potential at its terminals when the load is increased, as is the case with machines which are properly wound to compensate for a drop ol' potential in the mains on an increase of load, the controllersmagnet C should be wound additionally with a coil` C', in the main circuit ol" the machine, or a portion of such main circuit. rlhe main circuit coil would consist ot' a few turns ot' coarse wire, as indicated at Fig. 3, placed in the main c a, leading from the armature of the dynamo. The coils C C thus applied should be wound dit i'ereutially. As it isl very ditlieult to determine the exact magnetic effect required of the coils C', it is preferable lo shunt such coils with a wire, V, whose elitectivc conducting length may be varied, so as to determine the effective action ofthe coils C.

The coils C, Fig. 3, are connected after the manner indicated inFig. l, so as to be sensitive to changes in the diiiiercncc of potential, and the magneic effects ot' such coil are opposed by the action ot the coils C.

In order to produce the proper operation of the regulator, it is obvious that the resultant ot' the effects oli' the two coils must be such that the armature N, operating the controllercontacts, will vibrate during the lexistence of the normal dili'erence of potential of either light load or little current in the mains, or heavy load or maximum current in the main. lt is of course not essential that the windings C C' be upon the same core, as all that is necessary is that they should oppose each others actions so tar as the controllcr-lever L is concerned. g

Moditications in the arrangements are indicated in Fig. 4t, where the coils act on opposite sides of the pivot F for the lever, and in Fig. 5,whcre one, as,fer instance, @,is wound on the armature for the other, as C.

In Fig. 6 one olithenumcrous motor devices which may be used in place of the motor-magn net M, Fie. l, is illustrated.. The controller- IOS IZO

1,1'evolving in the direction ot'the arrow,turnsv the wheel 3 in a direction to close the valve. The results eii`ected are obviously the same as those secured by the arrangements shown in Fig. l.

lVhat l claim as my invention is- 1. ln an electricregulator,the combination, substantially as described, ot' a held-magnet coil upon whose degree ot' excitation the action ot' the machine depends` an artificial resistance connected to the same and l'ormed ot' a material whose specitic resistance varies with changes oftemperature, controlling devices eX- ternal to the coil itselt' t'or governing or con` trolling the temperature,motor devices for operating such controlling devices, and a controller-magnet governing the motor devices,as and for the purpose described.

2. The combinatiomin an electric regulator, of a ield-nmgnet coil upon whose degree of excitation the potential ot current developed depends, a conductor connected with the ci rcuit ot' the same and formed ot' a material whose resistance varies with changes ot' teinperature, means for governing the tempera` ture ot' said conductor, a controlling or operating motor, and a governing-magnet sensitive to changes in the potential ot` the current to be governed.

3. The combination,in an electric regulator, of a shunt tield-magnet coil, a conductor in the circuit thereot t'ornied of a material whose resistance varies with changes ot' temperature, means t'or governing the temperature of said conductor independently of the exciting-current tiowing to the field-magnet coils, an operating-motel' device, and a controllermagnet connectrd to the mains, as described, so as to be sensitive to changes in the dill'erence ot' potential between said mains.

t. rlhe combination, with a dynamo-machi ne and working devices n multiple are, of a licldmagnet coil in a shunt to the working devices, a resistance-coil in the circuit to the lield-magA net coil, a tube inclosing such resistance-coil, a valve controlling a passage of a cooling-current through a tube, a motor device for operating said valve, and a controlling-magnet connected to the mains in multiple arc with the working resistances.

5. The co1nbination,with a dynamo-machine supplying working resistances in multiple are, of means such as an electro-magnet responsive to changesin the diti'erence of potential in the mains, a motor device controlled by said electro-responsive devices, a resistance connected to the circuit of a field-magnet coil, and means for controlling the temperature of said coil so as to vary its specific resistance according to the amount of current desired in the fieldmagnet coils, said means being operated by the motor devices.

6. The combination, wit-h the mains (t b, supplying devices in multiple are, ol an electromagnet connected in a circuit from one main to the other, an armature-lever, L, balanced on knife-edges, controlling-contacts governed bythe same, a motor magnet or magnets governed by said controllingcontacts, and an artificial resistance whose temperature is controlled by the operation ot' the motor devices, as and for the purpose described.

7. The electric conductor R, t'ormed of material whose resistance varies with changes of temperature, and placed in the path ot' a cooling-current by which its temperature may bc governed, in combination with a tapered (rame on which the conductor is wound, as and t'or the purpose described.

8. The combination, with the rtsistance-coil R, of a taper-frame consisting of a number of tapering wings ot' non-conducting material, as and t'or the purpose described.

9. The combination, with the controllermagnet having coils O in a derived circuit and coils C' in a main circuit, ot` a variable shunt-wire, V2, as and for the purpose described.

1t). The combination, with the controllermagnet C, ot' controlling-contacts, a motormagnet, M, an artificial resistance whose resistance varies with changes ot' temperature, and a valve, V, operated by the motor-magnet and controlling the passage oi' a coolingcurrent over the resistance.

Signed at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of lllassachusetts, this 5th day ot' June,` A. D. 1886.

ELIHU THOMSON.

lVit'nesses:

M. L. TnonsoN, M. E. BINGIIAM.

ILO 

